USAID has committed 4.5 million dollars to the Red Cross to support procurement and delivery of relief supplies to the affected areas. This is in addition to the $50 million pledged by the US in immediate aid for Pakistan, an embassy press release in Islamabad said.

Until now, USAID has delivered blankets for 15,000 people, materials to shelter 67,500 people, medical supplies for a lakh of people for three months, safe drinking water for 50,000 households for three months, water storage capabilities for eight communities and water containers for 15,000 families.

The US military is also supporting the operations of the four helicopters provided by the government of Afghanistan.

The Defense Department expects eventually to have over 30 helicopters operational, it said.

The US remains the principal international provider of airlift capabilities to assist earthquake victims, it said adding, that 21 US helicopters are currently in operation in support of relief operations of the government of Pakistan, the United Nations and other relief organisations.